GoNexus webinar #2 on the Júcar basin
The second GoNexus webinar took place on 10 December, bringing together more than 20 participants for a one-hour online session in Spanish focusing on the multi-scale and multi-sectoral approach adopted by the GoNexus project analysing the impacts of climate change in a Mediterranean basin such as the Júcar river basin.
Located in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, this basin is characterised by intensive use of water in agriculture. As a key economic and food sector in many parts of the world, agriculture is facing major challenges due to climate change. These challenges may result from local changes (e.g. irrigation needs, water availability, production) or regional or global variations (energy costs, crop prices).
To correctly estimate the impact of climate change, it is necessary to take a holistic view at both global and local scales, as well as on the interaction between agriculture and water, energy and ecosystems – the ‘WEFE’.
After being given a definition of the WEFE nexus and the four sectors it covers (Water, Energy, Food, and Ecosystem), participants were given a short test on their perception of climate change and the consequences for agriculture. The aim was to repeat the test at the end of the webinar to see if their perception had changed in the light of the work carried out by the GoNexus team and its results.
Knowing today’s crops for better planting tomorrow
One of the first elements studied by the GoNexus team is the hydraulic component of this region, where precipitation can vary enormously. The partners used 5 different climate change models to establish three levels of scenarios and determine trends. The models used included geological data, soil type and use, geomorphology, and hydroclimate.
In a second stage, the region’s various crops – 65 in all – were grouped into smaller clusters (wheat, corn, almonds, pistachios, olives, etc.) to gain a better understanding of how they behave in the face of current and future climate risks (drought, extreme rainfall, CO2 capture, etc.) and the consequences for production.
Not all crops react in the same way, and it is important to understand this in order to make the right decisions about the type of crops chosen and adapted to climate change. The parameters studied to calculate the risk factor include different levels of temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation and rainfall.
A final step involved linking agriculture to other sectors (energy, water production, and regional biodiversity), and examining the consequences of different climate scenarios.
Results of the perception test
